Luminous sign



Sept. 30 1a24.

A. A. PAIR LUMINOUS smn Original File ad Jan. 15.

1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l 4 H 1,510,049 I A. A. FAIR LUMINOUS SIGN Sept. 301924.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Jan. 15 1923 ITY avweufoz witness V24@Hfomu o Patented Sept. 30, 1924.

1,510,049 PATENT ()FFICE.

ANDREW A. FAIR, 0F SIOUX CITY, IOWA.

LUMIN'OUS SIGN.

Application filed January 15, 1923, Serial To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW A. FAIR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sioux City, in the county of Woodbury and State of Iowa,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Luminous Signs; andI do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in luminous signs and moreparticularly to those which are brought into operation by therays oflight projectedfrom the headlights of approaching vehicles, the signsbeing intended primarily to be mounted stationarily at different pointsalong highways, although pennants and like devices may be constructed inaccordance therewith to be .carried by automobiles and other vehicles.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensivedevice of the character set forth including a reflector and providedwith novel means for diffusing and coloring the rays of light projectedfrom automobile and other vehicle headlights.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subjectmatter hereinafter described and claimed, the description beingsupplemented by the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a front elevation showing one form of the invention and oneof the many supports which may be employed therefor.

Figure 2 is an edge elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the sign detached from the support,portions of the two coatings of material on the reflector being brokenaway.,

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical section as indicated by line 4-4: ofFig. 3.

Figure 5 is a face view showing a different form of construction.

Figure 6 is an exaggerated sectional view Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the numeral1 designates No. 612,735. Renewed; February 2'5, 1924.

a suitably shaped plate formed of any desired material and provided witha highly polished reflecting surface 2, a sheet of metal beingpreferably employed in the construction of this reflector. Applieddirectly to the reflecting surface 2, is a sheet of tissue paper 3 fordiffusing the light rays from the reflecting surface 2. A coating 4 offlat varnish or gloss varnish rubbed to remove its lustre, is applied tothe outer surface of the tissue paper sheet 3 and penetrates through thelatter to cause it to adhere tightly to the reflecting surface. Eitheruncolored or colored tissue paper and colorless or colored varnish maybe used. When the tissue paper is colored,

the varnish will be uncolored, but when uncolored tissue paper isemployed, the colored varnish may be used.

By the construction above described, it will be seen that when thedevice is placed to receive the rays of light projected from vehicleheadlights, it will be conspicuously illuminated. and the rays of lightare colored. These reflected rays however are also diffused so thatthere is no objectionable glare.

Any desired symbols or characters may be applied to the exterior of thedevice by using opaque paint. I have illustrated a well known symbol 5indicating a left hand turn in a highway and at 6 I have disclosed arepresentation of ahighway marking which may be painted in any desiredcolors. If the background 7 of this marking is to be of a differentcolor from the color produced by the colored varnish or colored tissuepaper, the portion of the latter at the background, may be cut out andreplaced with a dilfusingand coloring agent of a different hue.

; In the construction shown in-Figs. 5 and 6, 1 designates a plate ofsuitable material and of any desired shape having a reflecting surface 2This surface however instead of being covered with tissue paper," has'aand thus the reflected rays from this surface are diffused. Coloredfabric 3f may be' used, in which case colorless varnish will beemployed, or colorless fabric w th colored Varnish may be-employed. Ine1ther case,

. sired manner.

, front face,

the rays of light reflected from the surface 2? are both diffused andcolored in the de-,

In Figs. 7 and 8, I have-shown a further modification of my invention,in which a back plate 1" preferably having a polished a sheet of coloredgelatine 2 producing a colored reflector. A sheet 3" of colorless tissuepaper, silk or other diffusing ma-- ing plate 1 have been bent aroundthe lay ers applied to said plate, as indicated at 8. This generalconstruction is preferable as a home town tag to be carried byautomobiles.

In all forms of my invention, the light rays are effectively difi'usedand colored'if desired and in most cases the coloring is practicallyessential. Obviously, I do not wish to be restricted to signs of anyparticularshape or to any diffusing or coloring agents, otherwise thanas set forth in the appended claims. Furthermore, while in allinstances, I intend to use the device in such a manner that it will beilluminated by the rays of light projected from vehicle headlights, themanner of'mounting the signs,

and the character of lettering, symbols or the like thereon, may bewidely varied to meet a great number of requirements.

claim 1. A luminous highway sign operable by the projected rays ofapproachingvehicle headlights, comprising a reflector, and transiscovered on its front side bylucent light diffusing and coloring meansapplied to the reflecting surface of said reflector, the whole forming asingle unitary article.

2. A luminous highway sign operable by the projected rays of approachingvehicle headlights, comprising a reflector, and translucent lightdiffusing and coloring means applied in sheet form to the reflectingsurface of said reflector, the whole forming a single unitary article.

3. A luminous highway sign operable by the projected rays of approachingvehicle headlights, comprising a reflecting surface, and a sheet oflight diffusing material applied to said reflecting surface. a y 4. Aluminous highway sign operable by the projected rays of approachingvehicle headlights, comprising a reflecting surface, a sheet oftranslucent light diffusing material applied to said reflecting surface,and a coating of varnish applied to and penetrating throu h said sheetof light diffusing Enaterial to adhere it to said reflecting surace.

5. A luminous highway sign operable by the projectedrays of approachingvehicle headlights, comprising a reflecting surface, a sheet ofcolorless light diffusing material applied to said reflectingsurfac-e,'and a coating of colored varnish applied to said sheet oflight diffusing material and penetrating through the same to adhere itto said re fleeting surface and to color the diffused light rays fromsaid surface.

6. A luminous highway sign comprisin a reflecting surface, a lightdiffusing and coloring means applied directly thereto, and

-. an opaque symbol applied to the outer surface of said diffusing andcoloring means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

- ANDREW A. FAIR.

